Game



v Feb. 16,1943. L. v. woon l 4 21,311,106

- GAME Filed July 14, 19,41

A/eu/rzv/ Zane Neu/ra/ Zane I I 5 INVENTGR. 45 424 aU/fence Woo F'IEi r BY 49 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 16, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAME Laurence V. Wood, Berkeley, Calif.

Application July 14, 1941, Serial No. 402,269

3 Claims.

The linvention relates to a game and more particularly to that type of game which is played on a relatively large playing field accommodating a -plurality of players of opposing teams.

An object of the present invention is to provide a game of the character described which will be fast and exciting for the players and thrilling to spectators and which involves the elements of coordinated team-work on a field approximating in size that of a football eld and which will be substantially safer to the players than the playing of football.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a game of the character describeda new and meritorious arrangement of the playing field and a new arrangement and construction of goals at the opposite ends of the playing field, all `con-- tributing to provide a game having the desirable characteristics above mentioned.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved mallet construction to be used in playing the present game. Y

The invention possesses other objects and fea tures of advantage, some of which, With the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred fomn of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be vadopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a playing eld constructed in accordance with the present invention. y

Figure 2 is a plan view of one of the goals used in the game with la portion thereof broken away to show underlying construction.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of one of thegoals With a part of the forward wall thereof removed.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of one of the mallets used inthe -playing of the present game.

The game of the present invention consists briey in the provisionof a playing field divided into a plurality of zones which are occupied by players of opposing teams and goals at the opposite ends of the eld and -play instrumentalities including mallets used by the players and a ball driven by the players from zone to zone to one of said goals, the object of the game being to play the ball from zone to zone and in each of said zones towards the end of the field and to -ultimately deposit the ball in the goal at the end of the field. In accordance with the preferred playing of the game, the players are restricted in their movements to the zones to which they are assigned and the ball must lbe struck in each zone through which the same passes.

The playing field 6 of the present game has been illustrated in Figure l of the drawing, Wherein it will be noted that the same is preferably of elongated rectangular shape dened between longitudinal sides 1 and 8 and end boundaries 9 and I l. Preferably the field approximates that of the usual football field and is approximately yards long by 50 yards wide. Arranged centrally of the field is an elongated center Zone I2 which is preferably about 14 yards wide and about '70 yards long and is arranged centrally of the field both widthwise yand lengthwise so as to leave side strips of approximately 18 yards apiece on the opposite sides of the center zone and end strips of approximately l5 yards at the opposite ends of the center zone. Delineated on opposite sides of the center zone are neutral zones yI3 and i4 which in the preferred form of the invention are approximately 4G yards in length and 18 yards in width, and are arranged longitudinally centrally of the playing field so as to leave forward Zones 16, Il, 1B and I9 at the opposite ends thereof which fill out the balance of the playing field and are approximately each 30 yards in length, 18 yards in width by 18 yards in width, except at their end portions where the same are extended to the center of the field at theopposite ends of the center zone. Goals 2 and 22 are positioned yat the opposite ends of the eld along the longitudinal center thereof for receipt of balls driven over the field. Additional zones such as dead-ball areas 23 and 24 here of semi-circular form about the goals 2l and 22 and other zone areas may be used to accommodate the game to varying rules and regulationsv of play. Also the overall size of the field and correspondingly the size of the respective zones may 1be reduced where the large size field above indicated is not available or where the game is to be played indoors. Also various of the zones such as the two neutral zones i3 and I4, may be deleted where it is desired to cut down on the number of players engaged in the game. Normally the teams Will .consist of eight, ten or twelve players with two or four players designated as forwards occupying the two forward zones, two or four players designated as guards occupying the other two forward zones and protecting the same against the forwards of the opposing team, two players designated as centers operating in the center zone I8 and two players designated as neutrals operating in the two neutral zones I3 and I4.

Preferably the game is played in four quarter periods similar to football, of fifteen minutes each, and the teams change ends of the eld at the ends of these periods. Appropriate intermission times are provided between the periods.

The ball is put in play at the center of the field by opposing centers at the beginning of each of the aforementioned periods and .after each of the goals is scored. Each of the players attempt to play the ball down the field or to pass it to another member of his team who in turn plays the ball down the field or to another member of the team. As aforementioned, the ball must not be passed through any single zone without having been -played in that zone. The object of the game is thus to pass the ball from zone to zone, play the ball in each Zone with the View of progressing the ball towards and depositing the same in an end goal. Free goal shots and other rules and regulations for putting the ball into `play after a foul or an out-of-bounds shot are used to round out the game.

The end goals, as will be best seen in Figures 2 and 3, are composed of a pair of walls 26 and 21 mounted in spaced parallel position :parallel to the end boundaries 9 and Il of the field. Preferably, the wall 21 is mounted on the end line of the field and the wall 2B mounted forwardly of the rear wall 21 and upon the playing field. Between these walls are inclined planes 28 land 29 which extend `upwardly from the playing iield to adjacent the widthwise center of the walls 26 and 2. A ball pocket or trough 3| is positioned between the upper ends 32 and 33 of the planes 28 and 29 for the receipt of a ball rolled upwardly over the planes. Preferably, the pocket or trough 3l extends for the full distance between the walls 25 and 21 and is inclined downwardly towards wall 26 and extended through this wall so that when a ball is deposited in the trough the same will roll forwardly of the front end 34 of the trough, where the same may be withdrawn by a player or a referee standing on the iield at the front of wall Zt. Preferably, the wall 26 is somewhat shorter in widthwise dimension than the wall 21 so that the lower edges 36 and 31 of the planes 2t and 29 diverge rearwardly of wall 26 and are thus exposed to receive balls driven longitudinally along the iield and onto the lower ends of the planes. This arrangement also makes possible diagonal shots into the goal utilizing the back wall 21 as a stop for deflecting the ball into the pocket or trough 3 I.

The goal parts as aforementioned may be assembled and constructed in any desired manner. As here shown and as a sample of such construction, the front wall 25 is constructed of a ply-wood eight feet long, four feet high. The planes 28 and 29 are approximately thirty inches in width and may be constructed of wood as here shown. A plurality of tie rods 38 may be used for connecting the walls 26 and 21 and a vertical spacer wall 39 is preferably used directly over the trough to supply rigidity to the assembly and also to stop high balls moving over the planes. 'Ihe trough is of suitable size to accommodate a ball of approximately two and three-quarters of an inch in diameter. Strips 4I and 42 may be fastened to the walls 26 and 21 for underlying and supporting the planes 28 and 29.

I have evolved an improved mallet construction for playing of the present game to enable the players to take a free swing at the ball while minimizing the danger of striking the ground with the mallet head in following through on the stroke. As will be seen from Figure 4, the mallet is constructed with an elongated ball striking head member 43 to which is centrally attached a handle member 44 which extends from a peripheral part of the head centrally of the length of the head and at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the head. The bottom 46 of the head, that is that portion of the head diametrically opposed to the handle 44, is beveled from adjacent the center portion 41 of the head towards the ball striking end faces 48 and 49, whereby when the handle 44 is in vertical position, as in use, the ends 48 and 49 will be elevated somewhat above the ground level. In this manner the player in taking a free swing at the ball causes one of the mallet ends to strike the ball and the mallet head to follow through without striking the ground. If desired, and as here shown, the entire periphery of the head 43 may be tapered from the center portion 41 towards the ball striking faces 48 and 49 in order to facilitate construction as by turning in a lathe or the like.

I claim:

1. A goal for a playing field adapted for receipt of a ball rolled over the field comprising, a pair of spaced walls one set directly behind the other and defining at their ends a pair of openings to the space between the walls and facing in part the sides of the goal and in part the front of the goal, inclined -planes extending upwardly from the field toward said walls to approximately the longitudinal center of the walls, and an elongated ball trough positioned between the upper ends of said planes and extending between said walls and inclined downwardly towards and extending through one of said walls.

2. A goal adapted for positioning at the longitudinal end of a playing field and adapted for receipt of a ball rolled over the field to the goal comprising, a pair of spaced walls mounted in substantially parallel relation parallel to the end of the playing iield and defining openings to the space between the walls and facing in part the sides of said iield and in part the portion of the field in front of said goal, inclined planes in said space between said walls extending upwardly from the field to substantially the center of said walls widthwise thereof, and an elongated ball pocket positioned between the upper ends of said planes and extending between said walls.

3. A goal adapted for :positioning at the longitudinal end of a playing field and adapted for receipt of a ball rolled over the field to the goal comprising, a pair of vertical walls mounted in spaced substantially parallel relation parallel to the end of the field with one of said walls adjacent the end of the iield and the other of said walls positioned directly behind said rst wall, inclined planes between said walls extending upwardly from said iield to adjacent the widthwise center of said walls, a ball receiving trough mounted between the upper ends of said planes,

said second wall having a greater widthwise dimension than said rst wall whereby the lower ends of said planes diverge away from said first wall to `permit movement of a ball longitudinally of said field and onto said planes.

LAURENCE V. WOOD. 

